Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0079’

ABSTRACT

A new garden type  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘CIFZ0079’ particularly distinguished by its medium size plant with round sphere plant habit, a medium size decorative flower (1.75 inch), creamy white flower color with a yellow colored center and a natural season response late September.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Chrysanthemum x morifolium.

Varietal denomination: ‘CIFZ0079’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘CIFZ0079’.

‘CIFZ0079’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has a medium size plant with round sphere plant habit, a medium size decorative flower (1.75 inch), creamy white flower color with yellow center and a natural season response in late September.

‘CIFZ0079’ originated from a cross made in October 2014 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. Seeds were sown in June 2015 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands and ‘CIFZ0079’ was selected from the resulting population on October 2015 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The female parent was the variety ‘GOLD CREST’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,606.

TABLE 1 A COMPARISON OF THE FEMALE PARENT TO ‘CIFZ0079’: Trait ‘CIFZ0079’ ‘GOLD CREST’ Natural response: ½ week slower ½ week faster Blackcloth response: Similar/bit slower Similar/bit faster Flower size: Smaller Larger Flower color: White with cream center Yellow Flower type: Similar Similar Plant size: Larger Smaller Plant habit: Rounder More upright

The male parent was ‘Staviski Dark Pink’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,901.

TABLE 2 A COMPARISON OF THE MALE PARENT TO ‘CIFZ0079’: Trait ‘CIFZ0079' ‘Staviski Dark Pink' Natural response: 4 weeks faster 4 weeks slower Blackcloth response: Similar Similar Flower size: Larger Smaller Flower color: White with cream center Pink/lavender Flower type: Less disc florets More disc florets Plant size: Taller/less width Shorter/wider Plant habit: Similar Similar

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘CIFZ0079’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in January 2016 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in January 2016 and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘CIFZ0079’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘CIFZ0079’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not yet been applied for. ‘CIFZ0079’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘CIFZ0079’ directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘CIFZ0079’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawing shows in FIG. 1 a close view of a flower of the new variety and in

FIG. 2 a flowering plant from an outdoor trial.

The aforementioned photographs, FIG. 1 as well as FIG. 2, were taken in September 2019 both showing a plant from the same black cloth indoor trial in Gilroy, Calif. These plants were about 10 weeks of age. One rooted cutting per pot had been planted in a one gallon pot, not pinched in week 24, and black clothed from week 25. Plants started flowering the end of August.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Gilroy, Calif., in September 2019 on the plants from the aforementioned trial.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2015.

TABLE 3 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘CIFZ0079’ AND TWO MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES: ‘Yowilma’, U.S. Plant Patent Trait ‘CIFZ0079’ No. 18,924 Natural response: 1 week faster 1 week slower Blackcloth response: ½ week slower ½ week faster Flower size: Bit smaller Bit larger Flower color: White with distinct White with typical slight darker center darker center Flower type: Similar Similar Plant size: Smaller overall Larger overall Plant habit: Rounder/more Mounded sphere

TABLE 4 ‘Meridian White’, Trait ‘CIFZ0079’ Not patented Natural response - 1 week slower 1 week faster North: Natural response - Similar Similar South: Blackcloth response: Similar Similar Flower size: Smaller Larger Flower color: White with distinct White with typical darker center slight darker center Flower type: Similar Similar Plant size: Similar Similar Plant habit: Similar Similar Flowering uniformity: More Uniform Less uniform

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Herbaceous garden-type, stems.             Upright and outwardly spreading, freely branching, strong             and moderately vigorous growth habit         -   Plant height (above soil).—14-16 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—17-20 cm.         -   Plant width.—32-38 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—About 4 days at about 22°             C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—14-16 days at             22° C.         -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS N155B but whiter. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Immature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 137C.         -   Mature leaf, color, upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 137B.         -   Length.—4.2 cm.         -   Width.—3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate, with distinct lobes.         -   Base shape.—Attenuate.         -   Apex shape.—Mucronate.         -   Margin.—5-lobed (palmate), edge dentate.         -   Number of margin indentations.—Many.         -   Depth of margin indentations.—Shallow.         -   Leaf length terminal lobe relative to total leaf             length.—Terminal lobe is ½ to ⅓ the length of the total             leaf=Medium.         -   Leaf depth lower lateral sinus.—Shallow.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Bifid hairs.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Bifid hairs.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 138B.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 138A.         -   Pattern of veining.—Palmate.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 137A.         -   Petiole length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Bifid hairs.         -   Presence of stipules.—Yes.         -   If present, size of stipules.—Medium. -   Stem:     -   -   Quantity of main branches per plant.—7.         -   Color of stem.—RHS 138A.         -   Length of stem.—8.0-9.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—1.5-3.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Bifid hairs.         -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 138A.         -   Length of peduncle.—3-7 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Bifid hairs. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Compositae, solitary, decorative-type inflorescences             borne terminally above foliage, ligulate ray florets             arranged acropetally on a capitulum giving a double flower.         -   Quantity of short days to flowering (response             time).—Approximately 6 weeks.         -   Natural season flowering.—Late September.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—130-140 with many             small buds developing.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About six             weeks from first color.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly spicy. -   Bud (when showing color):     -   -   Color.—RHS 9B, Tips are RHS 9D.         -   Length.—1.1 cm.         -   Width.—0.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblate. -   Immature inflorescence (at moment of opening):     -   -   Diameter.—2.4 cm.         -   Color of ray florets, upper surface.—RHS NN155A, with RHS 9A             at center.         -   Color of ray florets, lower surface.—RHS NN155A, with RHS 9A             at center. -   Mature inflorescence:     -   -   Diameter.—4.0 cm.         -   Depth.—1.5 cm.         -   Total diameter of disc.—0.3 cm to no disc present.         -   Receptacle color.—RHS NN155A, with RHS 9D at center.         -   Receptacle height.—0.3 cm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Length of corolla tube.—Medium. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Average quantity of florets.—140-150 in several whorls.         -   Color of florets, upper surface (abaxial).—Exterior flowers             with RHS NN155A, RHS 1B at base.         -   Color inner surface (adaxial).—Interior flowers RHS 9C, RHS             1B at base.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Width/diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex shape.—Mostly obtuse and dentate.         -   Base shape.—Tube.         -   Margin.—Entire. Small incisions may be present at tip.         -   Margin.—Type of rolling Moderately involute.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Papillate.         -   Lower surface.—Papillate.         -   Ribs present.—No.         -   Number of keels.—0. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of disc florets.—None present. -   Inflorescence (at moment of senescence):     -   -   Color of ray florets, upper surface.—RHS NN155A.         -   Color of ray florets, lower surface.—RHS NN155A. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Quantity.—30-40.         -   Color, upper surface.—RHS 143C.         -   Color, lower surface.—RHS 143A.         -   Length.—0.7 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Canescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—One.         -   Length.—0.4 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 150B.         -   Style length.—0.4 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS7D.         -   Stigma shape.—Bi-parted.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 145C.         -   Ovary length.—0.2 cm.         -   Ovary width.—0.1 cm. -   Androecium:     -   -   Stamens.—1, found on only disc florets.         -   Color of filaments.—RHS 2B.         -   Length filaments.—0.2 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 13A.         -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.         -   Anther shape.—Oval to club shaped.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS 13A.         -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been determined to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date.         -   Hardiness.—Has not been determined to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0079’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 